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Pink Gypsy Moth (Lymantria mathura)

Pink Gypsy Moth (Lymantria mathura) is a major defoliator of deciduous trees in the Palearctic, primarily in eastern Asia from India
to the Russian Far East (Roonwal 1979, Baranchikov et al. 1995, reviewed in CAB 2004, reviewed in EPPO 2005). Flight activity is not
well known for this species, but is thought to coincide with peak flight activity of two closely related species, L. dispar and L. monacha (Anon. 2001).
Males are scarcely seen and die about a week before females. Females congregate in groups of 6 or more near egg masses and become inactive after laying eggs
(Roonwal 1979). Egg masses may be deposited on logs, nursery stock, forest products, or sea containers (Pucat and Watler 1997). Females prefer to deposit
eggs on a rough surface (Roonwal 1979). The currently reported distribution of L. mathura suggests that the pest may be most closely associated with biomes
characterized as: temperate broadleaf and mixed forests; temperate coniferous forests; tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests; and tropical and
subtropical moist broadleaf forests. Of these biomes, only tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests do not occur in the US. Consequently, approximately
38% of the continental US would have a suitable climate for L. mathura. Known hosts found in Ohio include members of the genera Abies, Betula, Castanea, Fagus,
Fraxinus, Juglans, Malus, Pinus, Populus, Prunus, Quercus, Salix and Ulmus (CAPS oak commodity reference). As Ohio is already approximately 50% infested with
the European strain of L. dispar, this pest is suitable for early detection survey.